The purpose of a keyway is to provide a lock between the footing and the foundation wall.

The purpose of a keyway is to provide a lock between the footing and the foundation wall.

• A. Keyway
• B. Dowel
• C. Groove
• D. Tie

Answer: (A)

A keyway creates a positive mechanical lock between the footing and the foundation wall, so they act together rather than sliding apart. It’s a groove or notch formed in the footing (or in the wall’s bottom) that the other piece fits into as the concrete is poured, which transfers loads and resists horizontal movement from soil pressure or frost. This interlock is what keeps the wall from separating from the footing under stress. A dowel is a separate metal pin used for alignment or shear transfer, not an interlock between the two concrete parts. A groove by itself doesn’t guarantee a lock, and a tie is a reinforcing element, not the interlocking joint between footing and wall.

A keyway creates a positive mechanical lock between the footing and the foundation wall, so they act together rather than sliding apart. It’s a groove or notch formed in the footing (or in the wall’s bottom) that the other piece fits into as the concrete is poured, which transfers loads and resists horizontal movement from soil pressure or frost. This interlock is what keeps the wall from separating from the footing under stress. A dowel is a separate metal pin used for alignment or shear transfer, not an interlock between the two concrete parts. A groove by itself doesn’t guarantee a lock, and a tie is a reinforcing element, not the interlocking joint between footing and wall.